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Our Mission

We put the customer first. Every single time.

Cualified didn't start as a business plan. It started as a community.

Built on community. Driven by trust.

Before there was Cualified, there was The Cyber Security Council (TCSC).

For four years, we built a trust-based community for cyber leaders and practitioners in Central Texas. We created informative, collaborative events where CISOs, security leaders and practitioners could get better together at defending their companies' data, infrastructure and systems. We did it without asking for anything in return.

Along the way, we saw how hard buying security had become, and how little value most buyers were getting from their VARs. So in late 2024 we launched Cualified: a VAR that works the way the community does. On trust.

The Council is still at the heart of what we do. Many members choose Cualified as their VAR. Plenty don't. Membership never depends on it.

Visit The Cyber Security Council
  1. Year one The Cyber Security Council is founded in Central Texas.
  2. Four years Building a trust-based community of cyber leaders and practitioners.
  3. Late 2024 Cualified launches: a VAR that works the way the community does.
  4. Today The Council keeps growing, and so does Cualified.

We hear about the next wave early. Here's why.

From CISOs

Our community tells us what's working. When a CISO in our network says a vendor is doing something interesting, we go look, whether that CISO is a customer or not.

From investors

Through the Council, we work closely with the venture capital community. Investors bring us their portfolio companies early, often at the pre-seed through Series A stage.

Then we apply one filter: the quality of the founders and the quality of the funders. That's how emerging innovators make our shortlist, and yours.

Meet the founders.

Today, Cualified is two people. When you work with us, you work with them.

Brian Greene, Co-founder and CEO of Cualified

Co-founder and CEO

Brian Greene

Brian is a cybersecurity sales leader with decades of experience building and scaling emerging software companies, several of which were acquired by public companies. He has spent his career working with and selling through the VAR channel. That experience is why he co-founded Cualified as a Challenger VAR.

Brian also founded The Cyber Security Council, which he runs with Dan. A former Division I football player, he brings the same competitive mindset and team-first approach to every customer.

brian@cualified.com
Dan Piercy, Co-founder and CRO of Cualified

Co-founder and CRO

Dan Piercy

Dan is an IT and information security entrepreneur, community builder, U.S. Army veteran and CISSP. For decades, he has helped organizations make informed technology decisions and negotiate complex agreements with vendors and suppliers.

At Cualified, Dan is focused on putting the "value" back into value-added reseller: independent guidance, transparency and advocacy through every step of the buying process. He also helps lead The Cyber Security Council, bringing practitioners and industry leaders together through education, collaboration and community.

dan@cualified.com

Independent ownership

No investors. No private equity. No one to answer to but you.

Brian and Dan own Cualified outright. That gives us full autonomy to do what's right for our customers. There's no investor overhead to cover and no bloated operating budget baked into your price. That's how we keep pricing sharp at every stage, from the first quote to the renewal.

FAQ

Questions we get. Straight answers.

What is a Challenger VAR?

A Challenger VAR rejects the big-VAR playbook. Instead of hidden margins, a giant line card and sales-driven recommendations, you get independent advice, emerging technology, transparent economics and direct access to the founders. We still help you handle procurement. We just start earlier and work for you the whole way.

What does "Value Advisory Resource" mean?

It's how we define VAR. A traditional value-added reseller is built to move product. A Value Advisory Resource is built to help you make the right decision: what to buy, when to buy it and what to pay.

How is Cualified different from a large VAR?

Large VARs tend to show up late, after the decision is made, to process the order. We'd rather be in the room when you plan the project. Our recommendations are practitioner-informed, not sales-driven, and you work directly with the founders instead of a large account team.

How does Cualified price its work?

Transparently. We operate on a good, better, best model with our clients and always aim to land a price that is better or best because securing a purchase for your budget is not our primary goal. This always saves our client money on their purchase or renewal and we have referenceable clients who will tell you the same.

Who owns Cualified?

Brian Greene and Dan Piercy own Cualified. There are no outside investors and no private equity.

How do you find emerging vendors?

Two ways. CISOs in our community tell us which vendors are doing interesting work, and our relationships with venture capital firms introduce us to companies early. We filter both on the quality of the founders and the quality of the funders.

Do I need to be a Cualified customer to join The Cyber Security Council?

No. Many Council members use Cualified as their VAR, but it's never a requirement, and it doesn't have to be part of your decision to join.

Can you work with a vendor that isn't on your partner list?

Yes. Our partner list is representative, not complete. Ask about any vendor you're evaluating and we'll tell you where we stand. We can also paper a new vendor partnership in under a week most often.

When should we bring Cualified into a project?

As early as possible. If you're planning a purchase for next year, bring us in now. The earlier we're involved, the more leverage we can build and the stronger your shortlist will be.

Can you help with renewals?

Yes. We plan renewals early to build leverage, instead of reacting when the contract comes due.

Want to talk to the founders? That's the only option.

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